Each year, new tech devices come and go so fast that you can hardly keep up. iPhones are cool, and smartwatches are fun, but are they a good gift to give anymore?
If you know someone who loves technology, and you want to give them a more meaningful present, the answer is DIY electronics. But why? Let's take a look.
Build It, Code It, Use It
DIY electronics involve putting together various electronic parts to build something that could be useful, practical, or just pure fun.
The first thing that might come to mind is the good ol’ robot. You can definitely build a robot with DIY electronics like our custom-built autonomous robot, but you can also build your own smartwatch, retro gaming console, drone, or local internet of things (IoT) server.
On the other hand—if you love owning smart gadgets in your home, think of touch lamps, automatic watering systems, video doorbells, security cameras, robot vacuums, and so on. The list is endless, and we’ll give you a few options further down.
What you need to start with is a microcontroller. This is a small piece of hardware that acts as a sort of brain to control, measure, or interact with things in your environment. There is a microcontroller board for all levels, and if you buy a starter kit, it will come with one to get you going.
With this little guy, the possibilities widen, and gifting this electronic part is akin to gifting curiosity, learning, and creativity all bundled into one object. You don’t even need to know a thing about electronics to get started.
No Knowledge, No Problem
If you have never played with DIY electronics before, how do you know what to buy someone else? The answer to that is to explore the starter kits designed to get anyone building something of their own.
Arduino is a company behind some of the most popular microcontroller boards, and they have prepared a starter kit that includes a book with 15 projects. These range from creating a musical instrument with your keyboard to building a touch lamp with changeable colors.
Raspberry Pi is another fan favorite, and at PiHut, you can buy the Raspberry Pi 400 Personal Computer Kit. It runs off a Raspberry 400 microcontroller and is ideal for getting into coding, but besides that, there are loads of awesome uses for a Raspberry Pi for you to explore.
In this kit by Kitronik, you can build a simple robot using the BBC micro:bit controller. Alternatively, you can go for the inventors' kits—also by Kitronik—which gives you instructions for 10 different electronic experiments.
The Multiverse of Microcontrollers
Inside each of these kits is a microcontroller that can be reused in a ton of different electronic projects, making it a gift that keeps on giving.
Over time, a person can go from learning the basics of electronics and programming with easy and low-budget electronics projects to following other people’s builds to create something more epic. One example is these electronic-based costumes.
The great thing about electronic projects is how adaptable they are to different people, and you don’t necessarily have to think too much about what a person might do with it after you gift them a microcontroller.
For example, after receiving an Arduino controller for Christmas, this guy on YouTube decided to build a circuit that would collect data on his garden with the hope that his plants will never die again. Meanwhile, on the Raspberry Pi website, they’ve used a Raspberry Pi Zero to control LED lights with a piano. Each to their own and all the more better!
Give the Gift of Learning
Perhaps the most inspiring thing about gifting DIY electronics is that you can learn so much more from it. Some of the best electronic build kits come with documentation or access to online tutorials and resources, and the online communities are incredibly supportive.
You can find a wealth of electronic projects for free on the Instructables or Arduino project hub, and if you want more specifically to know how to build your own gaming console with Raspberry Pi, the RetroPie website has everything you need to know.
After reviewing the Grove Beginner Kit for Arduino, we found it to be one of the best Arduino starter kits around—with a design that lets you change modules and parts along the way as you become more advanced. For less than $24, too, it far beats buying another smart device that might become outdated within a year anyway.
This is something that can be used for years to come and flexible enough to grow with you as you learn more about DIY electronics. And besides being a fascinating gift to give this year, it might just spark a new life-long passion.
For Kids and Adults
The great thing about DIY electronics is that it’s not just for adults, but for children too. The people we imagine will enjoy it the most are those that are curious, creative, or just like giving things a go.
One fantastic company to check out is Micro:bit, which designed its microcontroller specifically to teach children about electronics and coding, its Make it: code it page is an impressive resource where you will find quick projects for children and adults.
And if you do buy something like the Micro:bit for your own child, you might just find yourself getting drawn into the world of DIY electronics too.
DIY Electronics: A More Thoughtful Tech Gift
DIY electronics are an incredibly flexible gift. It could include just the microcontroller to get someone started, or it could be a full starter kit that comes with everything you need—plus instructions to follow.
The possibility of what you can make with a microcontroller once you have one is exciting. Even better, your gift will have someone learning about something new with a decent chance that it will become a beloved hobby one day.
Thoughtful, fun, long-lasting, and educational. DIY electronics is a far better gift to give this year.